Chapter 193: White Tiger and White Rabbit

Chapter 193: White Tiger and White Rabbit

Xia Chichi had not arrived much earlier than the Cui family’s convoy. By the time He Lei stirred up trouble at the Taiyi Sect, she had only just tracked down Cui Yuanyang’s route.

Although the Vermilion Bird had merely assigned her a task to send her away, the fact that this particular mission came to mind so readily still betrayed something of her inner thoughts—at the very least, she intended for Xia Chichi to investigate the situation. If the target proved easy to kill, the plan might actually be carried out.

The Four Symbols Sect’s doctrine and goals had little to do with the mortal world’s rivers and mountains; they were closer to the traditional martial demonic sects, focusing more on the martial path. Of course, if they ever managed to summon the Four Symbols to descend upon the world, they would naturally seek to dominate heaven and earth. In that scenario, the mortal emperor would be nothing. From the imperial court’s perspective, they were clearly a band of lawless heretics, the kind that needed to be eradicated. But they were different from the conventional concept of rebels. Under certain circumstances, the two sides might even cooperate.

Hadn’t Xia Chichi’s mother once tried to become part of Xia Longyuan’s family? Perhaps the Four Symbols Sect could even become the state religion—why rebel at all?

But ever since she was killed by Xia Longyuan, the entire sect had united in shared hatred. Their already demonic ways naturally evolved into a desire to tear Great Xia apart, to avenge the Saintess. And so they became true rebels. Killing princes and the like was merely collecting small interest.

From the perspective of a true rebel, the more chaotic Great Xia became, the better. In the current situation, if they could truly provoke a falling-out between the Cui and Wang families, that would be like driving a vicious dagger into Great Xia’s main artery—basically a death sentence.

Of course, killing a young girl who had come to a banquet might not necessarily cause the Cui and Wang families to turn on each other. After all, the Wang family wasn’t the one doing the killing. At most, it would create discord between the two houses, but more importantly, it would drive both families to exhaust every effort to hunt down the murderer. That was why Xia Chichi had previously grumbled that the Vermilion Bird’s idea was crude. Elders like You had also thought it unnecessary to force the issue—unless the target was so easy to kill that no one would ever know who did it. In that case, it could be done casually.

So, in many situations, “keeping a low profile” only invited unnecessary covetousness and trouble. Displaying one’s strength was the way to avoid problems.

This time, Cui Yuanyang had made a grand show of force. She was accompanied by the clan’s strongest guest elder, Lu Ya, ranked twelfth on the Earth List. Her personal guard captain was in the sixties on the Human List, and every single guard was a formidable expert at the eighth or ninth level of the Xuan Pass. It was a display of the Cui family’s power.

In such a situation, even the barbarians and the already-rebelling Maitreya Sect wouldn’t dare cause trouble. How much elite strength could they spare just to target a young girl? That would be pure madness.

So when Xia Chichi learned the details of Cui Yuanyang’s escort, she had essentially completed her mission. All she needed to do was report back to the Vermilion Bird. But Xia Chichi’s own conscience was uneasy. She couldn’t tell if the Vermilion Bird was testing her feelings on the matter. If that were the case, she thought, the Vermilion Bird might be watching from the shadows, so she had to do something…

Thus, she openly blocked the Cui family’s convoy, calling out from a distance: “Is Miss Yuanyang here? An old acquaintance has something to convey.”

The convoy halted. The young girl poked her head out of the carriage window, her big eyes blinking with confusion.

Who was this beautiful sister? She had never seen her before.

“Miss,” Lu Ya said quietly by the carriage, “this person’s cultivation is not weak, and there’s a hint of sinister energy. When did Miss make such an acquaintance?”

Cui Yuanyang scratched her head. “I’ve only ever left home once…”

Then Xia Chichi spoke: “Luo Qi of Beimang. Miss Cui, you saw me once when you entered the mountain stronghold.”

Cui Yuanyang froze, and her face flushed involuntarily. She quickly said, “Ah, so it’s Sister Luo! Come over here.”

The guards fell silent. They only knew Xia Chichi; what the hell was Luo Qi? If the young lady said she knew her, then she knew her.

Everyone was aware that the young lady had been captured after foolishly charging into Beimang. No one knew which bandit she had met back then. But could Beimang really have such a beautiful female bandit? Well, since it was the young lady’s foolishness, it was best not to bring it up—it would only embarrass her.

In truth, when Cui Yuanyang had been captured at the stronghold, Xia Chichi had long since left Beimang. But Cui Yuanyang knew the name Luo Qi… She had studied Zhao Ge’s past very carefully, even having the captured Beimang bandits brought to the Cui residence for interviews. She had learned that Xia Chichi of the Four Symbols Sect had once used the alias Luo Qi and had slept with him. When Zhao Ge said he already had a lover, he had been referring to this woman…

Judging by Zhao Ge’s attitude, they hadn’t broken up…

As Xia Chichi climbed into the carriage with a grin, Cui Yuanyang instinctively shrank into a corner, her face burning. She felt like a vixen caught by the rightful wife.

Wah…

This sister was indeed very beautiful. No wonder Brother Zhao liked her.

Unlike Yangyang, whose face was still round even after all this time.

Xia Chichi looked at the blushing Cui Yuanyang with a strange expression. She held back for a long time, but finally couldn’t help saying, “Little girl, if I had come to kill you, you’d be dead already!”

“Ah?” Cui Yuanyang stammered, “I, I haven’t done anything with Brother Zhao, not really—at least not yet…”

Xia Chichi covered her face.

Shouldn’t you be well aware that I am the Saintess of the Four Symbols Sect? Do you think I came to kill you over that?

But then Cui Yuanyang actually said, “Oh, right, Sister is the Saintess of the Four Symbols Sect… The Four Symbols Sect isn’t stupid enough to trade a Saintess for the life of some insignificant little girl.”

Eh?

Now it was Xia Chichi’s turn to scratch her head.

So you’re not stupid after all?

The two girls stared at each other. Finally, Xia Chichi put on a stern face. “That’s right. I was just passing by, but seeing your convoy made my blood boil. I came specifically to deal with a vixen! You, the dignified young lady of the Cui family, well-educated and refined—how dare you steal a man? Have you no shame?”

Cui Yuanyang instinctively wanted to cover her head again, but then mustered her courage and didn’t. She muttered, “You chose to be a Saintess, to serve the gods. You don’t want him, but you won’t let anyone else have him either. How is that fair?”

Xia Chichi was struck speechless, her face expressionless.

She had thought this girl was cute, but now she was starting to find her annoying.

Fifteen years old, and still acting cute! She clearly understood everything in her heart, didn’t she?

“It’s my sect that won’t allow it,” Xia Chichi said stiffly. “But that’s not an unsolvable problem. If he joined the sect, maybe it would be fine. What’s the difference between you and me? Isn’t it your family that won’t allow it? Otherwise, why the three-year promise? If he fails to make the Human List in three years, would you really elope with him?”

“Yes.”

That single word completely silenced Xia Chichi. She stared wide-eyed for a long moment before saying, “Anyone can say that.”

“Sister…” Cui Yuanyang sniffled. “Actually, you’re right. We’re both in the same boat. Why are we arguing here? I know where he was recently. That older woman doesn’t have our restrictions. And her family is especially eager for a marriage alliance… Uh, anyway, maybe we’re both doomed…”

Xia Chichi blinked again.

Older woman… Tang Wanzhuang?

Cui Yuanyang continued muttering, “My house arrest wasn’t even supposed to be over yet. But I heard that Wang Zhaoling had invited all the Hidden Dragon List figures to a banquet, and I guessed he would be there. So I pestered my father to let me come. If I don’t see him again, I’m afraid he’ll forget all about Yangyang…”

Cui Wenjing probably deliberately let you come, Xia Chichi realized with sudden clarity.

How insidious!

He had seemed so indifferent before, but now that Tang Wanzhuang was personally entering the fray to snatch the man, he couldn’t hold back anymore, could he?

Xia Chichi suddenly felt like an irrelevant bystander. Then she laughed at herself. What was she doing? Had she actually convinced herself she was here to deal with a vixen? That was just an excuse to get through the task. But seeing the little vixen, her anger had genuinely flared up. And then she had been outdone by the little girl’s arguments, leaving her feeling foolish.

In truth, in the other’s heart, the real competitor had long since ceased to be Xia Chichi. It was Tang Wanzhuang who truly made the Cui family feel threatened.

How amusing. She wondered if Cui Wenjing, upon learning that Tang Wanzhuang had entered the game, had ever regretted the three-year promise that had backfired on him.

Come to think of it, if Tang Wanzhuang had any connection with him, it was only because of his identity as a prince, wasn’t it? But that identity was mine… As this thought crossed Xia Chichi’s mind, she felt the green jade hairpin on her head gleam brightly—and doubly so.

Her irritation returned. She glanced sidelong at Cui Yuanyang for a long moment, then said leisurely, “You’re right. Tang Wanzhuang is older. She won’t be as thin-skinned as you little girls. Who knows, maybe they’ve already done everything, while you’re still at home dreaming sweet dreams…”

Cui Yuanyang’s little face turned both red and bitter.

She thought so too. But what could she do?